An Alternate Nightmare

Chapters

One Scared Filly
New Connections
What if I Rule the World, Twilight?
Too Close
Blood-Soaked Nightmares
The Wrong Path Taken

One Scared Filly

Princess Twilight Sparkle limped along the tall, shadowy trees of a forest--perhaps the Everfree Forest--with blood streaked across her pelt. Her eyes were firing depths of violet, and the fur along her spine was rippling with unease and uncontrollable rage. Her hair, thick with grease, was flattened to the fur on her forehead, and her tail drooped stupidly as it was dragged along the musty--yet lush--ground of the Everfree Forest. One of the Alicorn's wings was unfolded and dangling from her flank, feathers ripped from it and blood smeared near the base of her wing, which had a deep gash running halfway through it.

All of the wounds that stretched across her body, from the tip of her muzzle to the skin before her tail, were all caused from her almost never-ending battle with Starlight Glimmer. Luckily, though, Twilight herself had inflicted more wounds to Starlight's hide than the varlet mare had inflicted upon hers, but Starlight's magic had been just too powerful, thus causing Twilight to loose the battle. Starlight had been so stuck up in her own ways that she'd destroyed the scroll before Twilight could stop her using her wise, calm words, and now they were stuck in this alternate universe.

A sigh dispersed from Twilight's mouth, leaving her lips like a dove being freed from its cage and finally setting out into the world. I sure hope that the mane five are together right now. I hope that they are friends. . .Twilight swallowed, hot tears building in her eyes as she plopped down onto her haunches in sorrow. Pain shot up her wounded leg, causing her to gasp, but she let go of it shortly and let her frizzy tail curl around her side, tears gushing into her eyes and blurring her vision. A hard, throbbing lump curled up inside of her throat, pulsing with so much sadness, anger, and mixed emotions that it choked the purple princess and a fresh wave of tears streamed down her face. Twilight gasped, her shoulders shaking, as mental pain raked its cold claws across her heart.

"Oh, Celestia, what have I done?" Twilight's forehooves slid over dead leaves and her belly pressed against the cold forest floor. She rested her head between her tense forelegs, warm tears gushing down her face and soaking into any fur they reached.

Yet, Twilight knew that, no matter what, she should keep on walking. Struggling to her hooves, the Alicorn princess started to saunter through the woods yet again, her shoulder blades protruding in desolation and her eyes glued to the plant-ridden excuse for a path. Twilight walked for a long while, and finally her muscles felt as though they were starting to catch on fire and her limbs ached, her cuts stinging as they screamed silently at her to rest. Even her eyelids were starting to droop, and a dark bag itched at the bottom of Twilight's eyes.

Then Twilight's suspended ears picked up a sound of deep, emotional hurt; a filly crying.

"But, how could that be?" The purple mare murmured. "Why would a filly be all the way out here, in the dark forest?" Suddenly Twilight's misery was semi-replaced with curiosity that followed after concerns quivering tail, trotting after it in half confusion.

Intrigued, Twilight perked her ears up and stalked after the noise, lowering herself a tiny bit and gingerly stepping over dead leaves and frail twigs. She followed the distressed sniffling all the way to a bush not that far ahead of her, where, through the thick green leaves, she glimpsed a jet-black pelt and a sparkling, smokey blue mane.

"Uhm, hello?" She said, somewhat softly, her fur prickling anxiously.

There was one last sniff, then the small black filly turned her head around, facing Twilight and looking at her through splinters of space through the leaves of the bush she was hiding in. She gasped, her cat-like pupils thinning in her icy blue eyes, and scrambled back with her wings spread in alarm. "Please! Please don't hurt me!!" The innocent little filly begged, her bloodshot eyes desperate and her hackles spiking so much she looked almost like a puffer fish.

"Oh, sweetie, I would never hurt you. . ." Twilight's voice was soothing, like a mother cat licking her kitten gently as it slipped into a deep, sweet sleep.

The only response that the Alicorn princess got was a scared gasp and eyes that were fixed so squarely on her that she felt as though they were piercing into her own eyes.

Then Twilight realized that one of the filly's eyes was swollen shut and cuts were scoured down her body.

"Oh, sweetie, where are your guardians or parents?" Twilight inched closer to the mare, reaching out a hoof in comfort, but she bolted away from Twilight just like a squirrel realizing it was about to be fresh-kill would. Thankfully, though, she only had ran back a few tail-lengths.

"I-I don't have one. You aren't working for Fireflare, are you?!" She trembled so hard that her feathers and fur quivered, and she could feel her muscles tighten with fear, which was pulsing from her like heat from a fire.

"No, darling, I am actually from. . .Well, it's a long story that a pony even as strong as you wouldn't understand. Now, let's get you to somewhere safe so you can heal. Sound good?" Twilight's voice was dripping with decorous honey.

A golden-yellow liquid exuded from between the filly's legs as her fear-scent intensified a shocking amount. "W-will you beat me, too? I don't like th-that very much. . ." She ducked, her head shrinking into her ruff, which was covered by "Armour", of which had a moon on it. . .

"Oh my ancient books! Are you Nightmare Moon?!" Twilight's heart skipped a couple beats as realization slapped her in the muzzle.

"Er, yeah. . ." The trembling filly--no, Nightmare Moon, breathed, her voice barely a whisper.

"Oh, dear. . .Please, come with me, I promise I will raise you the right way!" Twilight begged, eager to help transform Nightmare Moon back to the loving Princess Luna that ponies had soon grown to adore.

"Wh-why should I? You will just use me like everypony else does!" Nightmare leaped to her hooves defiantly, fluffing up her fur defensively. Her eyes blazed and her sharp teeth flashed in the pale moonlight that cloaked the forest in an eerie depth that casted long shadows across the life-full ground.

"Oh, Sweetie, I only wish to help you!" Twilight's wings spread in anxiety, of which pinned her ears back against her skull.

"But nopony else wants me! Why would you?!" Tears clogged in the small black Alicorn's cat-like eyes, her lip curling and her voice cracking as she spoke.

"Because. . .I know you better than you think. Now," Twilight's voice was as soft as kitten fluff, "let's get you somewhere safe." The purple mare attempted once again to walk up to Nightmare Moon, and to her satisfaction, the scared little "girl" allowed Twilight to take her hoof, and thus the two limping Alicorns made their way down the not-taken-care-of path of the woods.

Finally, after walking what felt like moons but really was about an hour or two, a house came into view. It was small, and wood was boarded over the windows and door, but Twilight knew a spell that could easily get them in.

She glanced down at Nightmare Moon, who was trembling beside her, exhaust dulling her pain-ridden gaze and her pupils unfocused. Some of the poor filly's cuts had been opened up by the movement, and puss was oozing from her swollen eye. A stab of sympathy sliced through Twilight and she winced, blinking as she looked at the poor, youthful yet somewhat civilized villain that limped beside her own aching body.

Nightmare caught Twilight's gaze and looked up at her, so many emotions mingling in her eyes that Twilight actually felt tears build in her own.

"What's wrong?" She choked out. "Are we going to be okay?!" Anxiety thumped with Nightmare's heart.

"No, sweetie, everything is completely fine. Now, let's get moving. I know a spell that can get us in."

"Oh, alright. Do you think there is a bed in there?" Nightmare's voice was practically a whimper.

Twilight parted her jaws to respond, but her jaw hung loosely open as she realized who's house this was. . .For it was the one and only Fluttershy's cottage.

"Oh and I know a spell, too, that can get us in." Nightmare Moon skipped up to Fluttershy's old cottage and bowed her head, preparing a spell, magic igniting on her sharp horn.

"Uh-huh. . ." Twilight breathed absently, stupidly staggering up to the old, abandoned cottage while hoping with all of her might that Fluttershy was okay, at least being well-fed and treated the way she should be.

"Uhm, Princess? Priinceeess? Hello, are you there?" Nightmare yelled, dancing around in front of Twilight, who had apparently started spacing out.

"Huh? What?" Twilight shook her head rapidly and her vision cleared as she came back to "reality". "Yes, yes, I'm fine! Let's, let's go on inside." Dragging in a deep, rattling breath, Twilight cautiously took a step into Fluttershy's old cottage, inhaling dust almost immediately and coughing shortly after.

Nightmare looked at her, concern brimming in the blue depths of her eyes.

"This might not be the best place to stay"--Twilight broke off as another small fit of coughing seized her--"but it sure is better than nothing. There should be a couple bedrooms upstairs, and one of them has a large bed that we can both sleep in--that is, if it's still there."

Nightmare Moon parted her jaws in confusion and raised a hoof, ready to comment on this strange Alicorn's knowledge of a random, abandoned house, but she shook her head in defeat, deciding it was best she didn't ask.

"Follow me, Nightmare." Twilight invited as she paced lightly through the house and found her way to a staircase, following it upstairs to a room, in which was the bed the Cutie Mark Crusaders had slept in during their sleep over at Fluttershy a few seasons back.

Nightmare examined the room bitterly, a frown set upon her face. "It's not very sanitary." She observed as she trotted over to a window, rubbing a hoof on the cobwebby curtains. "And it sure could use a lot of fixing up." She was starting to get a little bit arrogant.

"Well, Honey, this is all we have." Twilight tried to reason.

"Whatever. I suppose it'll do." Nightmare finally agreed, leaping onto the bed and curling up into it.

A sigh of relief escaped Twilight, and she, too, layed down on the bed, her aching limbs numbing (along with the rest of her body) as gradually she slipped into a deep sleep.

New Connections

Twilight plodded at a steady pace through the dark, murky forest she was present in, mist clinging to her fur and moisture filling her nostrils as she breathed regularly.

Where am I? A tick of confusion latched onto Twilight as she swiveled her head around, looking around for some sign to show her where she was.

Nothing. And it definitely was not the Everfree Forest--especially because there was a clear dirt path winding through these woods, whereas in the Everfree Forest there was no path. And the fog; you couldn't even see a whisker-length past your own muzzle.

Then, suddenly, the fog up ahead cleared, and the shape of a Unicorn was present a few yards before Twilight, of whom blinked in bewilderment, squinting through the mist and stepping closer to the mysterious mare. Coming closer, Twilight could see that the mare had a pink-purple coat and dark blue eyes that burned into her own hatefully, and bangs that curled onto her forehead as the rest of her mane transitioned smoothly to a curl at the side of her shoulder. Her fur was bristling and blood was matted in it, and her tail was burned off from a beam of Twilight's magic, a nick present in her ear, and battle wounds scarring all over her body, as well as a chipped hoof.

"Starlight Glimmer." Twilight's solid voice was cold like ice sitting in a freezer as she took one last step up to the wicked mare, and she could feel her breath bathing Starlight's muzzle.

"Ew! Back off!" Magic exploded from Starlight's horn and threw Twilight back, clearing all the fog and sending a burning sensation through the purple Alicorn's fur.

Twilight quivered as she got up, her wings spreading (even though her ripped wing was very limp and drooping a little) and her eyes blazing a violet fire. She gritted her teeth and curled her lip in pure rage, magic sparking around her horn.

"Aw, is wittle baby Twiwight gonna cwy? After all, you got us in this mess." Starlight teleported herself beside Twilight when the raging princess shot a beam of fire at her.

"You're really bad. No wonder your friends don't like you!" Starlight jeered with a scoff. "I mean, you're weaker than Fluttershy!" Starlight seemed to have forced herself to say something mean about Fluttershy.

Twilight's ears flattened and magic flowed and sparked from her purple horn. "My friends love me very much!" She hissed, her teeth glinting in the moonlight that cradled the deep, dark forest. "And it's YOUR fault we're here! If it weren't for you, then I would be with them right now, and we would be having fun, being together, and--" Twilight was interrupted by a bolt of teal-colored magic hitting her foreleg.

"Oops." Starlight whimpered, covering her mouth with a hoof and looking back in false guilt. Then she looked back at Twilight deviously and teleported herself behind her, then shot a beam of fireful magic at Twilight's tail, burning the middle down off as Twilight had done to her.

"Guess I'm just really clumsy today~" Starlight slyly stepped away from a lazerbeam that Twilight shot at her and taunted; "You still need to really work on your aim."

A growl rumbled deep in Twilight's chest and she trembled with unmistakable rage, her eyes on fire and the hairs on her pelt raised. Her teeth ground together and the magic sparking on the tip of her horn intensified, her pupils thinning Her wings spread farther and her brow furrowed viciously. Finally, she sent a bolt of magic at Starlight, and tears started flooding in the powerful Unicorns' eyes, her pupils spazzing with her ears twisted back and flattened as fury boiled inside of her, as well as pain that shot through her and made her blood run cold.

Starlight trembled, gasping and holding back spurts of blood that came up her mouth. "Wh-what'd you do?" She strained, her voice hoarse. She hacked up blood and coughed harshly, the fur along her spine spiking.

Twilight felt a sudden twinge of guilt and galloped up to Starlight, who was backing up as her flanks heaved and chunks of blood were spewed from her mouth. "Oh, I'm sorry! I-I can, can help you!" Twilight lifted a shaky hoof.

Starlight fell to her knees, her eyes wide like glowing moons, and coughed up a huge pool of blood before kicking out spasmodically. A moan rasped from her lips and blood trickled from her gaping mouth, her blank eyes staring up into space and her muscles tightening in a certain trance called death.

Twilight shook her head and backed away, her ears pinned back in horror and a foreleg held up against her chest.

"The Princess of Friendship does not kill!! You will never be one of the best princesses! You are stupid, weak, and hopeless!!" Little voices whisper-screamed into Twilight's fuzzy ears.

"No, no, stop! I beg of you stop!!" Twilight cried as images of Starlight's stiff, dead body paused in front of her eyes, consuming her every thought and vision.

Hooves poked at Twilight, shaking her, and finally she opened her eyes to reality.

"Oh!" Twilight exclaimed, shooting upward from the bed. "It was all just a dream!"

Nightmare Moon backed away fearfully from Twilight, her eyes flashing.

Then, sitting up on her haunches, Twilight's relief mingled in with her other overwhelming emotions and, bringing her forelegs up to her chest, she wept, her withers shaking and her brow furrowing so hard that it hurt the skin between her wet, bloodshot eyes.

Nightmare Moon leaned her nose into Twilight, then flinched back, and repeated this process until she worked up the courage to finally press her nose into the matted fur on Twilight's forearm.

Twilight's bawling did not increase nor ease, but in her heart Nightmare's soft presence and comfort soothed her a bit--but her dream still left dark thoughts lurking in the cobwebby shadows of her mind. Had she really killed Starlight Glimmer?

Twilight opened her eyes and examined her forehooves, puling them away from her chest but keeping them folded. "There's blood on my hooves!" She exclaimed in a panic, emotions flurrying inside of her and straightening her front kegs so they were splayed out on the bed. "So much blood!! Dripping, dripping. . ."

Nightmare retreated her muzzle from Twilight's fur and stared at her forelegs, and what she saw made her face screw up in concern and utter bewilderment.

"There's nothing there. . " She muttered.

"Oh, no, it's all over my hooves!! And my fur. . .Its splattered all over my hide! Just look, I am a failure as a princess!!" Twilight sobbed, lowering her forequarters and sliding her head between her forehooves.

Nightmare shrunk into her fur, starting to get weirded out by Twilight's odd behavior. "I-I can't see it. . ." She choked out, hoping it would help the mysterious Alicorn out.

"I am imagining things now?!" Twilight got to her hooves indignantly, her fur lifting and her tears streaming. "How can you not see it??" She yowled, her voice strained over the lump in her throat, pointing a hoof at the blood clotted in her right forehoof with her left. "It is Starlight Glimmer's blood!"

Nightmare flinched, her ears pulled back. "I'm sorry. . ." Her voice was a wisp of air and a heavy frown set on her face. She started to tremble, tears lodging in her ice-blue eyes and her smokey tail oddly closer to her rear end. "I was just trying to help. . ." She crouched and stepped backwards uneasily, fear worming its way into her churning belly, her gaze locked on Twilight as though she was going to lash out and hit her.

Twilight sniffed and closed her mouth, her gaze growing softer, and pain gripped it's cold, mental claws hard on her heart. "Oh my gosh. . .I-I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you." Her voice was a bittersweet honeysuckle from the rasp it contained, yet the guilt that bit into it made it seem forgiving.

Nightmare's pointed pupils were thin and small, her blue iris being tackled by slashes of white light that made her look like a scared kitten, cold and with a slavering dog standing over it.

"I-I really am!! I haven't hurt you yet!" An image of Starlight's dead, bleeding body flashed Twilight's mind and she shook her head rapidly to get it out, her ears flapping against her skull. "I just had a nightmare. . ."

Sympathy flashed in the little filly's eyes. "I have nightmares all the time. . ." she confessed, scratching a foreleg nervously and sitting up onto her shivering haunches. "But, the thing is, sometimes I wonder, and often I find a door. I open the door and walk into it, and, and I see somepony else, and it looks like their own dream because there's been real ponies I have seen before and they are in a state I cannot label."

Nightmare's description was not the best, but Twilight knew that she, in fact, was the pony that literally tried bathing all of Equestria in the dark tub of night, scrubbing them clean of their daytime memories. "Oh, honey. . ." Twilight said softly, taking Nightmare in her presence gingerly with her hurt wing (her left wing). "Tell me when you do, OK?" Ignoring the blood Twilight felt was present on her fur, she hugged Nightmare tightly.

"O-okay." Nightmare nuzzled into Twilight's chest fur, of which had fur burned off from her real battle with Starlight.

Twilight sighed. Well, at least we have a friendly connection now. . .Or, special connection. . .

What if I Rule the World, Twilight?

As the sun rose up from it's long sleep, dawning pale golden light over Equestria, Princess Twilight Sparkle blinked her hazy eyes open. Her mane was an absolute mess, but so was her fur, and her cuts stung as she sat up and stared, bleary-eyed, out "Fluttershy's" window.

Then her gaze flitted to the banged up filly who was quivering in her sleep beside her. It had been three days since they had been together, and Nightmare had finally learned Twilight's name and started trusting her. Yet, she still shook violently in her sleep, whimpering and flipping over until she woke up with a squiggly frown on her face and visible red veins in her eyes.

Twilight assumed that Nightmare must have been able to feel her gaze because she blinked open her eyes, staring directly into Twilight's.

"Good morning, Twilight. . ." She whispered, gaping her jaws open and revealing rows of sharp teeth as she yawned heavily.

"I suppose the manners I taught you have kicked in." Twilight said with a giggle, covering her mouth swiftly with her chipped (right) hoof. She was also very thankful toward the fact that she had remembered one of Zecora's potions that helped with scabs, because the one on the top of her muzzle still felt irritated when she woke up, and she feared she'd accidentally break her wing off as she slept, though most of the gash had closed. And it was all thanks to Zecora.

Twilight tilted her head fondly. If only Fluttershy could see how much of a help her cottage could be, even when abandoned. Luckily, though, Twilight had spruced the place up a bit, and most of the dust had skittered out the door that herds of scared ants. She sighed in satisfaction, loosening her muscles peacefully as the words "Good morning, Nightmare," were brushed from her cracked lips.

"I had a nightmare tonight." Suddenly, Nightmare's serious, solid voice broke the peace that'd been held captive in the air.

"Oh?" Twilight sat up. "What was it abou--"

"You were in it." The small black filly blurted, standing up on the bed. "We were here at the cottage and then guards came to said cottage and took me away." Princess Twilight could tell that Nightmare was holding back tears as she trembled harder than a newborn kitten. "You tried saving me but you failed and I got taken away. . ." Her quavering voice faltered into a wail of frustration, and tears came cascading down her face.

Terror bolted through Twilight. "Did it seem vivid?" She asked breathlessly, her heart slamming against her ribs as though a dog was shaking it like a toy and banging it against a wall.

"Vivid?" Nightmare inquired quizzically, though she shut down the question quickly. "No idea what that means," she shook her head and added; "but it was very realistic. But, it was so odd! It wasn't even like a dream, it felt like a memory, but it was, like, in the future!" She finished in a squeak.

Twilight blinked and jerked her head back, her ears twisting back but not flattening. "Alright, well, let's not focus on that. We simply must clean the house." Her wing rested on Nightmare's back softly and the filly looked at her and sniffed, wiping a tear away.

"Alright! Just let me get my armor back on," Nightmare said over her shoulder as she jumped off of the bed and tottered over to where her armor lay.

Twilight giggled lovingly. Now, onto cleaning the cottage!

"Twilight?" Nightmare Moon mustered up her courage to ask, gulping hard as she scrubbed the wall vigorously with a squishy yellow sponge that had soap frothing from it, using her magic obviously.

"Yes, dearie?" Twilight answered sincerely as she dusted one of Fluttershy's lamps.

"Will I ever be able to rule the world?"

"Er. . .Uh. . ." Twilight's magic made a stopping noise as she dropped her duster onto the table, on which the lamp sat lazily on. "Well, that, uh, would not necessarily be the best idea. . ." Twilight bit her lip, memories of the Nightmare Moon from her dimension flashing before her eyes. She backed away in horror.

Nightmare's lower lip jutted out and quivered as she asked innocently with wide eyes; "Why not?"

"Because, uh. . .Well. . .Where I came from, youuu. . .Turned kind of evil. . ." Twilight forced out, coughing when she finished.

"So I did rule the world?" Nightmare's voice was high-pitched. "Doesn't that mean that I can do it now, if I did it then?"

"Well, if you do it the right way, possibly." Twilight's shock was very clearly ebbing away. "But I suggest that you don't. Too much power can overwhelm you and make you a pony that you are not." Memories of Sunset Shimmer transforming to a raging she-demon flashed before Twilight's eyes and she shook her head to clear it. Did the portal still even exist?

Fear sparked inside of Twilight as she faced the dreadful truth that she may not ever speak to Sunset again, feel her skin against hers, or even potentially sneak a quick kiss. But what hurt the most was not being able to see Flash Centry. Surely he was still alive and breathing in the Crystal Empire? Or even the Canterlot castle?

Twilight bit her lip. The real question is, though, would I rather raise Nightmare Moon all by myself or with somepony? She tapped her chin with a fuzzy hoof, then realized that it would be best for her to raise this filly alone. If she raised Nightmare alone then that would mean that she could treat Nightmare the perfect way so as to make sure she didn't turn. Flash could mess up with only the smallest of actions and Nightmare could lash out and take over Equestria.

"What about Spike?" Twilight's quavering voice was barely a breath, brushed off of her lips like a tear from an eye--the transition was smooth and not very noticeable.

"Uhm, Twilight?" Nightmare blinked in confusion and waved a hoof in front of her guardian's face, of which was starting to tear up.

"Huh?" Twilight gasped and shook her head, spreading her wide Alicorn wings.

"You kinda blanked for a few heartbeats."

"O-Oh. S-sorry, Sweetie, I'm just a little homesick." Twilight's throat clenched as she strained to speak over the large lump sitting lazily within it, tears catching in her violet eyes and the top of her wings folding sorrowfully.

"Then why don't you go home?" Nightmare asked, bewildered. "I could go with you and we could be a family!" She finished with a squeak.

"I wish it was that easy. . ." Twilight's head hung a little and her shoulder blades jutted out, "But we need to stay here, at least for now. And. . .There's no going back." Twilight shuddered as she held back a wave of tears, her eyes squeezing shut and her upper teeth digging into her lower lip.

Nightmare flapped her black wings until she lifted herself from the ground and kissed the tip of Twilight's horn swiftly, melting the purple mare's heart. "One day you can, and I can go with you!" She exclaimed, throwing her front hooves in the air happily. "We can do everything together, and spend long nights outside looking at the stars and the moon!"

"I hope that that can happen, too." Twilight choked out, tears flooding in her eyes and clouding her vision as the lump in her throat strengthened. Her unfolded wings stretched back as she stood on the tips of her hooves and pressed her muzzle against Nightmare's, breathing in the dark Alicorn's night-like scent. I also hope that Spike can show up at some time. . .He was such a big help and I miss him so much! I just can't believe that Starlight had to take him in and hold him hostage. . .All so that--just in case she needed to--she could use him against me. Twilight closed her eyes as a tear found it's way down her cheek.

"Please don't cry," Nightmare's high-pitched voice was a scratchy beg. "I don't like it when ponies I love cry. It remind me of all the ponies that went away crying with my father and never came back. . ." Her voice faltered into a gasp, and she placed herself on the ground, folding her wings at her sides.

Twilight's tears paused in her wide, shocked eyes. Taken aback, she managed to say; "Dear, I am so sorry." She sniffled, tears finally streaming down her face.

"Please!" Nightmare squeaked, her eyes watering. "Please don't leave me. If he comes for you, just don't. . .Don't let him take you to where you never come back!"

"Sh, sh, sh. . .It's okay, filly. . .We'll get through this. We'll survive." Twilight soothed.

"You promise?" Nightmare sniffled.

"I promise." Twilight sounded solemn, though fear was creeping up to her. She just hoped that what she said was true.

Too Close

Finally, after a long day of housework that had seemed to drag on for days, Princess Twilight and Nightmare Moon were done with the housecleaning. Yet, Nightmare couldn’t believe her eyes when she looked outside and at the time, because the sun was not even setting and on top of that it was only five twenty three PM.

“Twilight?” Nightmare asked, her jaws gaping into an enormous yawn as her tongue curled up against the roof of her mouth, of which was armed with sharp teeth.

“Yes, sweetie?” Twilight wiped dripping sweat from her forehead with a clean towel she had found in Fluttershy’s bathroom.

“Why isn’t the sun sleepy? And why did the time take longer?” Nightmare’s voice was high-pitched and puzzled.

“Well, love, the sun does not get sleepy. In fact, the sun is much, much larger than the moon and is made up of an ionized gas called plasma. Plasma is not the same thing as lava or fire, and is very hot. The Earth is always moving, and overtime it moves around the sun, causing the sun to look like it is moving. Thus, we have day and night, and through out most of the night the moon goes up. But, in Equestria, Princess Celestia raises the sun and Princess Luna raises the moon. Except for in the Everfree forest, in the Everfree forest everything grows and light is provided on its own. A real wonder, huh?”

Nightmare Moon stared up at Twilight, her pupils moving slightly side to side and her ears flattened, her face screwed up confusedly, as she tried desperately to grasp what Twilight was saying. Alas, she could not understand, and so she perked her ears up and huffed; “No idea what the hay you’re saying.”

"Sh, sh, honey. Make sure you stay polite. You will make more friends that way." Twilight advised softly, like the fur on the skin of a puppy's ears.

"I don't need friends." Nightmare hissed. "And, on top of that, it's not like anypony likes me." She gently ran a hoof down her swollen eye, which was actually healing very well and in a few days would be gone. "Not even my own 'father'." She grunted, looking down with her ears flattened disconsolately.

"I'm sure you might hate me, too. Everypony whose ever been nice to me always leaves. I'm almost positive you will, too." With that, Twilight felt her heart crumble like a human hand squeezing cheese.

"No, no, Sweetie, I will always love you." Twilight put a chipped forehoof on Nightmare's chest plate, where her heart would be under the heavy metal, fur flesh and bones.

"Well, in that case, I will love you always too, Twilight." Nightmare flapped her wings to get off the ground so she was level with Twilight and rested a forehoof on the mare's withers as she put her head in between Twilight's head and neck.

Twilight swallowed hard as she felt her throat start to throb. "Do you want to go for a fly?" She choked out.

"A fly?! Oooo, I'd love to!" Nightmare plopped herself onto the ground and spun in circles, her wings spread wide with excitement.

Twilight giggled, love brimming in the violet depths of her eyes.

The steady flap of Twilight's large wings and the somewhat fast flap of Nightmare's accompanied the silence that hung like mist in the crisp air. The sun was hanging low in the middle of the sky, and Twilight knew that after a few more slow pushes, Celestia would lower it completely.

"We ought to make this fly quick," Twilight said aloud, fluffing up her fur against the chill, "we don't want to get stuck out in the dark."

"Why? I love the dark!" Nightmare piped up, and her wings went down harder, lifting her higher than Twilight.

The full-grown mare heaved herself to Nightmare's length from the ground. "Wanna race?"

Nightmare looked down at the ground, which was about fifteen feet below them. She placed a hoof on her chin, and was surprised by the cold touch of metal on her warm body.

"Eh, why not." Nightmare shrugged, looking back at Twilight.

"Oh, fun!" Twilight tapped her forehooves together. "Now, we've got to keep going str--"

Twilight was cut off abruptly as a black and silver blur sped past her, stirring the fur on Twilight's right side.

Blinking in surprise, Twilight "reared back" before pushing off of the air and bolting up to Nightmare. Yet, the small black filly seemed to always stay in the lead, always at least four feet in front of Twilight.

I wonder how she's so fast? Twilight narrowed her eyes and flapped her wings harder, but she wobbled a bit, seeing as she wasn't the best flyer.

Flashbacks corroded Nightmare Moon and fear that her "father" would come back mentally abused her. No! Go away! Twilight will protect me!

No, she won't! She's weak and she doesn't care about you! A voice lashed back, it's tone scathing.

Tears clotted in Nightmare's eyes and hopelessness glimmered in the icy-blue depths. She recalled all of the times she'd attempted to run--or fly, rather--away from her so-called home. She'd gotten so used to it that she got much better each and every time she had tried to.

Nightmare shook her head and then glanced back over her shoulder. Twilight was far behind her, about seventeen feet behind, exhausted and panting.

"Okay," Twilight breathed, gulping air hard, "that's enough, you"-she panted hard and swallowed-"win!"

Nightmare stayed where she was for a moment, her heart thumping and one of her ears twisted back as she breathed a little hard and contemplated what to do. Then she remembered her "father" yelling at her that he had had enough and she would never win.

Perhaps Nightmare had heard Twilight wrong, and she had really said that Nightmare would never win.

Fear shuddered through Nightmare, starting at her haunches and shivering the tip of her nose briefly. Driven by fear and her past, she suddenly fled into the woods below her and Twilight.

"Hey! get back here!" Twilight panicked, zooming after Nightmare, her heart fluttering with wings of anxiety.

Nightmare angled her wings so that she landed on her hind legs and fell gently to all fours, dashing into a nearby bush while trembling like crazy. Her icy blue, cat-like eyes reflected in the darkness and glowed eerily. The only sounds were the blood pumping hard and coursing through her racked nerves and her rapid, shallow breaths that were shoveled from her body very quickly. Her eyes were wide like moons.

Suddenly a robust stallion stamped across the woods, his brown fur silhouetted silver in the pale light of the moon. His deep blue eyes glinted malevolently as stars twinkled across them and his spikey yellow hair looked white in the darkness.

But then there was the heavy flap of Twilight's Alicorn wings, followed by the sounds of her hooves meeting the ground with an anxiety-filled thud. Her eyes were also wide, and magic flowed around her horn and she prepared to teleport herself a few feet away.

But the Unicorn Stallion stopped her. "What are you doing here?" He demanded, slamming a hoof on the dirt and his spit spraying Twilight's muzzle.

"I could ask you the same question." Twilight's voice was stony, but a small quaver accompanied her assertiveness as fear was slowly crawling up her spine, and it's menacing whispers of a doomed future got closer and closer to her ears.

"I'm looking for my daughter, Nightmare Moon. Have you seen her?" Nightmare trembled even harder at the Stallion's words, tinkling a little in blinding fear.

Twilight suddenly felt very light-headed. "N-no. What does she look like?"

"She's bratty, black, wears Armour. . .Her Cutie Mark is black stuff and then some little moon." He practically scoffed.

"Ah, no. I'm sorry, sir. I wish that you find her." Twilight lowered her head and forequarters in mock sorrow.

"Teh. You'd better." And with that, he stomped away, brown fur bristling.

Blood-Soaked Nightmares

"What were you thinking?!" Twilight threw a forearm in the air in exasperation, her purple eyes blazing with fury and fear.

Nightmare Moon sank her head guiltily into her chest, her chin pressing against the chestplate she was wearing. Her luminescent tail was flowing close to her side, and her eyes shone and glistened with regret.

"I thought you were mad at me. . ." She said quietly, her voice high-pitched and scratchy. "I used to try and run away from my 'father' but he would come after me, yelling at me that I would never win. He would catch me and hurt me. . .That's what happened to my eye."

The small black Alicorn's words dug deep claws of sorrow into Twilight and a small bit of tears built up in her eyes.

"Oh, honey, I completely understand. . ." Twilight's voice was as soft as chick fluff. She sat beside the silently crying Nightmare and wrapped a hoof around the filly's neck. "But you simply must know that I will always care for you. Friendship isn't always easy, but there's no doubt it's worth fighting for."

"I've never had friends before. . ." The words were brushed off like dust from Nightmare's soft lips. A tear slipped down her cheek and she looked at Twilight. "Are you my friend?"

"Why, of course, dear." Twilight soothed, clutching Nightmare close and rubbing her back. "And I will always be your friend. . ." The words were choked out. Would Twilight ever see her friends again?

The map was destroyed. Starlight took Spike. . .Her friends could be dead in this world, they could be enemies (even worse than through the mirror), or they could have jobs they thought were more important than friends.

And who was the only pony who could fix this? None other than Starlight Glimmer, a grudge against the whole of Equestria.

Twilight wondered where Starlight was and what she was doing. The Princess of Friendship curled her lip in disgust. She might as well kill herself. The only thing in this world she could possibly harmonize was Nightmare Moon.

What if I went on a trip to canterlot to see the princesses? Is Luna even a pony? Twilight blinked, tapping her chin with a hoof and retreating from the hug. Well, it's certainly worth a shot. I could gather a lot of information from them.

"Hey, honey. . ." Twilight looked at Nightmare's glistening blue eyes.

"Yes, Twilight?" Nightmare blinked.

"Would you like to go and see the Princesses?" Twilight asked curtly, willing to cheer Nightmare up or at least make her optimistic.

"Princesses?" Nightmare suddenly felt bewildered. "Or are we seeing Cadence, too? Has she come back from the dead?!" The small filly's eyes lit up and she grinned widely.

Suddenly, Twilight's optimistic (ish) mood was dropped like a glass full of fresh water. The glass fell and smashed, spiking into Twilight's insides as pain seared through her. The optimism that was like that fresh water suddenly dried up in the heat that had struck Princess Twilight. Her own half sister, dead?

If Cadence is dead, then where is Shining Armor. . . Twilight gasped, collapsing onto the floor, tears streaming down her face as she whispered "no" repeatedly. A small amount of drool dibbled down her gaping jaws and her whole body quaked with shock.

Nightmare stuttered something out, unsure of what to do. She sat down and stared sympathetically at Twilight. Should she not have brung up Cadence? Or was Twilight just having a heart attack?

My own brother. . . gone! And I'll be stuck in this damned world for the rest of eternity! Unless something changes, I will never see my brother again. And maybe even my friends. My best friends, the ponies who've been there for me through and through and never given up on me. Now all I have is a filly who cares for me but. . .Nopony can ever replace my friends. Or my brother! How is it that ponies live like this?! Twilight's breathing was so hard that black was starting to press up against the edges of her vision, and eventually she fell limply to her side.

Twilight awoke in. . .ponyville.

"Hey, Twilight!" Pinkie Pie called to Twilight as she skipped happily along the dirt paths of Ponyville.

"Oh, Pinkie!! I'm so happy to see you!" Twilight scampered up to her friend, fur spiked in joy, as though a crazy squirrel.
"I missed you so so much, and and and I am just so happy to see you! Are you happy to see me?? I'm so happy to see you!!"
Twilight gave a couple in-place skips of excitement.

"Oh, Twilight! You're so funny, I wasn't talking to you! In fact, I never even said your name!" Pinkie giggled and then pointed at a lavender coated mare strutting up to her, an unimpressed look on her face and. . .Wings spread regally at her sides.

Princess Twilight swiveled her head around, gawking at the Alicorn before her. Suddenly, she felt no wings to stiffen and expand at her sides at the shocking sight. . .The pony before her had her wings.

Twilight glanced down at her flanks, but all that remained was blood pouring out of two tears where her wings would have been connected. The blood just kept gushing and flowing, almost like a waterfall of reeking crimson. The scent of blood clotted in her nostrils, and she noticed her hide growing lighter and lighter, losing color gradually.

The Princess' eyes bulged as she further examined the lavender "Alicorn". For it was the one and only Starlight Glimmer, with faded scars stretched across her body and parting her sparking fur. Twilight's wings were stitched to her flanks and blood leaked out of the stitches, also streaking over Twilight's former wings.

"You'll pay for what you did." Starlight growled, thrusting her muzzle to Twilight's, who peeled her lips back and bared her teeth in rage. "You're a murderer, Twilight Sparkle. And we will have our revenge."

Before Twilight could question Starlight's words, the mane six came defiantly trotting up to Starlight's side, angry looks on their faces, magic prepped and wings spread.

Tears, thick and salty, suddenly gathered in Twilight's eyes, slipping down her cheeks and dripping to the ground. Her friends. . .Sided with Starlight Glimmer! This couldn't be possible, it just couldn't-

"Pinkie Pie. . .Will you do the deeds?" Starlight said silkily, her chin high and satisfaction coursing through her.

Pinkie Pie nodded and, with a yowl, flung herself at Twilight, of whom teleported away from Pinkie.

Pinkie snarled in frustration, running at Twilight. The former Alicorn attempted as hard as she could to start her magic,
but it just wouldn't work. Pinkie barreled into Twilight and bit down with sharp teeth into her fluffy purple neck.

Twilight writhed, screaming at Pinkie to stop.

"Pinkie!! We're friends!! I love you!" Twilight noticed Pinkie's grip ease the tiniest bit, and reluctantly she kicked out with her hind legs, throwing Pinkie a few feet back. The pink pony coughed up blood, her eyes turning gray and her pelt turning crimson with blood. But where had it come from?

Twilight howled as Rainbow Dash held her down and pulled at her mane. Even if Rainbow was mad, that certainly didn't seem like something she would do.

Twilight went to swipe at rainbow, but her legs wouldn't work. But suddenly they did, and she slapped Rainbow in the face so hard blood dripped from the Pegasus' nose.

Then it was Rainbow's turn to turn red, soaked with random blood.

"What have you done?" Twilight demanded, scrambling to her hooves and slamming a hoof on the ground defiantly, glaring at Starlight. Blood, warm and sticky, flew out of a deep gash in her neck, nonetheless she ignored it.

Starlight chuckled. "Oh, Twilight. . .You really thought I'd go easy on you after you committed murder? And to think I never layed a hoof on you. . .What selfishness. . .And look! You've killed Pinkie and Rainbow now!"

Twilight, though she didn't wish to, felt quite let down from Starlight's words, of which had been dripping with a what-a-shame sort of tone. Starlight was trying to guilt trip Twilight, with her "innocent" tone and hurtful words. But Twilight refused to give in to it.

Twilight breathed in deeply, closing her eyes and then opening them as she exhaled. "I won't let you get under my fur." She said stonily, her expression flat but her eyes twinkling with rage.

"Look for yourself." Starlight muttered darkly, leaning forward.

Slowly, Twilight looked to her side. . .

"PINKIE!! RAINBOW!!" Twilight whinnied, her hackles spiking in horror.

Panicking, Twilight bolted up to Pinkie Pie, nausea settling deep into the pit of her stomach and her pupils thinning with shock. She watched as the deep crimson blood soaking Pinkie's fur dried and stiffened, almost turning black.

"N-No!" Twilight then raced to Rainbow Dash's side, but the pegasus was also turning almost black with blood.

"Dash?!" Twilight choked out, wanting to throw up her insides as fear and pain daunted her, turning her dizzy. Her heart thumped so hard that it rang in her ears, and she had almost never felt so lost and hurt before.

"Twilight. . ."

Twilight whipped up her head to glare at Starlight, growling with rage, her teeth bared.

"Are you so sure you want to go visit Celestia?" Starlight asked, her voice dripping with taunt like honey.

"What do you mean?!" Princess Twilight demanded, stamping up to Starlight, magic sparking around her horn.

"It's a wonderful idea. . ." Starlight glanced over her shoulder, biting her lip and rounding her eyes. "I mean, it's terrible,
you shouldn't do it."

Had Starlight just admitted that Twilight was smart and then taken it back?

Right as Twilight was about to say something, her dream faded, and she was suddenly thrown back into reality.

"Twilight?" Nightmare Moon asked aloud, fear flashing in her blue eyes and her fur quivering. Her voice had a high-pitched squeak in bedded into it.

"I'm sorry, dear. . ." Twilight whimpered, her wings drooping and her eyes dull with desolation. "I just keep on having nightmares. . ."

The Wrong Path Taken

Princess Twilight’s short purple fur was rustled in the light breeze stirring over the land as she trod outside. Nightmare Moon tottered after her, armor gleaming in the morning sun.

After the awful nightmare Twilight had just had the day before, she’d decided to wait till morning to visit the. . .Princess(’s). She’d just had to regain a good mindstate before setting out to a path that could lead somewhere she hadn’t wished upon.

Well, if Twilight was to be honest with herself, how could she obtain a calm mindset no matter what happened here? Nothing-nothing-would ever be normal again. And with out her friends and the elements they possessed, how would they stop evil? Evil like Tirek, or even Discord (who knows how he was in this world). Maybe her own friends had gone bonkers.

Twilight dismissed her rushing thoughts like a cat dismissed interaction with an annoying dog. But this was more than just an “annoying dog”-it was a nagging tick that wouldn’t let go of the fangs it had sunken into her flesh. It chewed and chewed at the Alicorn’s thoughts, consuming every thought that came bursting into her mind. Well, that and the hope. . .The hope that was shattered every time it got brought up. No Cadence, no friends. . .No way out, not even the wicked mare that’d started this all.

Twilight had never felt so helpless in all of her life.

“T-Twilight? You ok?” Suddenly, a small, fragile voice pulled Twilight from her zone of awful thoughts and feelings.

“Yes, Sweetie. It means a lot that you care.” Twilight stopped to give Nightmare a quick hug before continuing to walk in an unnerving silence.

Nightmare Moon frowned, flattening her ears and continuing to work her little legs and trot after her friend.

Twilight felt her heartbeat escalate greatly as she lifted herself off of the ground, Nightmare copying her, and flew above Canterlot over to Celestia and Luna’s castle.

“Why can’t we just walk in?” Nightmare Moon asked, blinking her icy blue eyes in confusion.

“Well. . .It’s quicker this way.” And even though I’m super anxious, I’m just dying to know what’s up with the princesses!

As Twilight’s wings beat as fast as they could with out out “winging” Nightmare, her thoughts raced faster than a speed train. Did she really want to get there quick? Shouldn’t she collect herself?

The Princess looked back and saw Nightmare’s disconcerted expression. She then realized she was panting and she could feel how wide her eyes were opened, even her short purple fur was fluffed, making her look like she was scared to death.

Well, Twilight was half scared to death-questions were blasting in and out of her mind, making way for new ones and writhing like ants in her bristling fur. She had no Spike to defend her, no brother to defend her-unless, of course, he remembered her! Yes, what if Shining Armor had forgotten about Twilight? Or gotten mad at her?

Considering, Shining might not even be at the castle. Or perhaps Chrysalis had taken over and-

Princess twilight yelped as she crashed headfirst into the tall, white outer wall of the Canterlot castle-Celestia’s and Luna’s castle.

Nightmare eased herself over to Twilight, of whom had her eyes spinning in their sockets and imaginary books circling around her dizzied head. Kindly, the small Alicorn reached out a hoof and pushed Twilight up a little; her wingbeats were unsteady and beginning to falter.

“Do you need help?” Nightmare whispered, sympathy washing up over her and glittering in her ice-blue eyes.

Twilight’s only reply was a strangled neigh. She shook her head vigorously, her eyes finally focusing both physically and “mentally”.

“Let’s just knock.” The ruffled Alicorn suggested gruffly, before lowering herself lots of feet down, landing on the castle’s doorstep. Shortly after, Nightmare Moon landed, too.

Drawing in a deep, calming breath, Princess Twilight stiffened up sternly before mustering up piles and piles of courage to knock.

Huh, that’s weird. There’s usually guards at the doors. Twilight cocked her head, examining the door intensely, when suddenly it opened.

Twilight gasped. “Celestia!” There was so much relief in her voice it surprised both the Princess and Nightmare. That relief pulsed through Twilight, smoothing her fur and folding her wings and un-widening her eyes.

The small pink princess danced on her hooves, a large smile beaming on her brightened up face. “I’ve your sister! You have to help her!” Her voice was desperate now. “I can, of course, raise her myself,”-Celestia merely stared blankly at Twilight, but as the mare continued her pink eyes started to glow with anger and her fur stand up-”but, still, you deserve to know such things!!”

Celestia snorted, lifting a hoof and then slamming it back down on the hard floor of her castle. She spread her wings regally. “You dare bring this, this nuisance to my castle? What have you become, small, purple, star-butted pony?”

Twilight’s jaw hung open and random bits of words were stuttered from her mouth. Nightmare shrank into her armor, cheeks a little red and shame heating up her body.

Celestia’s right. I am just a mere nuisance. The small black filly fought back tears than pressed hotly into her shining eyes.

Twilight snatched a quick glance at the tear-stifling Nightmare, before snapping her head back to Celestia’s sharp voice.

“I banished my sister ages ago, and once she came back I retaliated and preformed an age spell on her.” Celestia’s voice was hard and her eyes only showed stony emotion. She then added with a sneer, “I hope she never grows up.”

Twilight gasped, a lump catching in her throat. It was her turn to stifle tears, now. Whatever had happened to Celestia’s love for her little sister? Didn’t she still care? Surely she did, after everything they’d done together and the closeness they had once shared?

This isn’t like you. Twilight said silently to Celestia. You must be hiding how much you secretly do love Luna.

“I must. . .Send her away.” Celestia pushed past Twilight before the purple pony could speak up.

As Nightmare’s jaws parted in a silent scream and her eyes widened, tears streaming from them, Twilight shot a beam of magic at Celestia.

Twilight shoved Celestia away and spread her wings, scooping up Nightmare and teleporting themselves back to “Fluttershy’s” cottage right as Celestia hollered for her guards.

So much fear and lostness flooded Twilight that she felt as though she would faint. Heat pulsed from her ruffled pelt and her wings were spread wider than ever, despite the tear in one of them.

Nightmare let it all out. She bawled like a raging thunderstorm, tears cascading down her face and shrieks of mental pain coming from her heaving flanks, raking jagged claws across the once still air.

Thoughts gushed into Twilight's head, questions buzzing like bees and predictions whispering in low voices that consumed her mind. But, her wholke world paused as the door to Fluttershy's cottage was swung open savagely.

Author's Note

"Why didn't Celestia just banish Luna again?"

Welp

She didn't want to. And y'all have a lot coming in the next chapter :rainbowderp:

Sorry for the short chapters btw aaa ;-;